Ulster County Resident and Afghan Refugee Ali Faqirzada Detained by ICE, Faces Expedited Removal

An Afghan refugee and Bard College student who fled the Taliban and resettled in Ulster County is now facing deportation after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, sparking outrage and community support across the Hudson Valley.

Ali Faqirzada, who came to the U.S. in 2022 with his family, was arrested by ICE on Long Island last week following what officials described as a “credible fear” interview—a standard step in the asylum process designed to determine whether an applicant faces persecution or torture if returned home.

Phillip Pantuso, Hudson Valley managing editor of the Times Union, told Radio Catskill, “Ali had done everything right. He had work authorization, was working as a security guard at Kingston Hospital, and was a full-time student at Bard College.”

According to Pantuso, Faqirzada’s family—eight in total—are all Shia Muslims who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban’s takeover. Several had worked with or alongside U.S. agencies helping to rebuild the country. His sister, for example, was involved in a women’s entrepreneurship program. All of the family members successfully completed the asylum process—except for Ali.

“When he first arrived in California in early 2022, he was detained by Customs and Border Patrol, then released on parole pending an asylum interview,” Pantuso said. “That case had just been pending ever since.”

But recently, Faqirzada’s case appears to have shifted from a standard asylum track to what’s known as expedited removal, a process that allows for rapid deportation without a hearing before an immigration judge.

“For some reason, Ali was moved into expedited removal,” Pantuso explained. “That means he could be deported even though he has a hearing scheduled for November 13.”

ICE confirmed that Faqirzada was arrested under an administrative I-200 warrant, a civil—not criminal—violation. He is charged under Section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act for entering the U.S. without valid documentation.

“His attorneys aren’t disputing that,” Pantuso said. “What they’re saying is that he entered the U.S. and declared himself a refugee, which is the legal process to apply for asylum. Every indication was that things were proceeding normally.”

Faqirzada remains detained at an ICE facility in New Jersey. His attorneys from Human Rights First, a nonprofit that provides pro bono legal aid, have filed two petitions in federal court: one for habeas corpus to block his deportation, and another seeking his release on parole.

“They’re arguing that he was already released on parole when he arrived three and a half years ago and that he’s done nothing wrong since,” Pantuso said. “He’s followed all the rules and has every incentive to continue doing so.”

While the courts await a federal response, community members are mobilizing. A vigil Monday night on Bard’s campus drew several hundred attendees, including family members and friends. One friend who visited Faqirzada in detention said he’s aware of the outpouring of support and that it’s “helping him keep his spirits up.”

A GoFundMe campaign launched this week to assist with family expenses has already raised more than $38,000. “He was the main breadwinner for his family,” Pantuso noted. “His attorneys are working pro bono, but this helps with other costs.”

Elected officials have also weighed in. Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger said she was “deeply concerned” about the case, while Congressman Pat Ryan sharply criticized ICE’s handling and said his office “has been in constant communication with the family” to push for Faqirzada’s release.

Image: Ali Faqirzada, an Afghan refugee resettled in Ulster County, was detained by ICE and placed in expedited removal as his attorneys seek his release. (Credit: GoFundMe)